Power-operated hydraulic sealing and crimping machine



July 19, 1949. L. SALFISBERG 2,476,629

/ POWER OPERATED HYDRAULIC SEALING AND CRIMPING MACHINE Filed May 17, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 93 1 7756 26 5 mmvron.

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BY M

arm/v51 July 19, 1949. L. SALFISBERG 2,476,629

POWER OPERATED HYDRAULIC SEALING AND CRIMPING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 17, 1945 I 1 1/1 4 /////////////////////M/ a I; ATTORNEY July 19, 1949. L. SALFISBERG 2,476,629

POWER OPERATED HYDRAULIC SEALING AND CRIMPING MACHINE I Filed May 17, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. X

A TTURNEY Patented July 19, 1949 POWER-OPERATED HYDRAIlLIC SEALING AND CRIMPIN G MACHINE Leroy L. Salfisberg, South Orange, N. J assignor to Seal-Craft, Incorporated, Newark, N. 1., a corporation of New Jersey Application May 17, 1945, Serial No. 594,289

10 Claims.

This invention relates in general to a machine for pressing one or more layers of material into tight contact with another, and more particu-' larly the invention contemplates mechanism for sealing together layers of packaging material for making or closing packages or for attaching labels or covers to the packages. 7

In general machines of this type are known, for example as disclosed in my patent United States Patent No. 2,140,117 dated December 13, 1938. The machine described in that patent includes a pair of jaws to receive and press layers of material between them, at least one jaw being initially actuated toward the other by the operator through a treadle-operated mechanism which starts a motor driven cam which then continues actuation of the movable jaw, until the treadleoperated mechanism is released, whereupon the cam stops at the end of a revolution.

In my copending application Serial No. 550,753, filed August 23, 1944, now Patent No. 2,402,298 dated June 18, 1946, I have disclosed a similar machine wherein the movable jaw initially is closed by the first portion of the movement of a treadle in one direction, the continuation of the movement of the treadle in said direction then operating a hydraulic pump thepressure from which is supplied to an operating piston which continues the closing of the jaws under high pressure.

One object of the present invention is to provide a machine of the general character described which shall include a novel and improved construction whereby the jaws shall be closed wholly by power driven mechanism.

Another object is to provide such a machine which shall embody novel and improved features of construction whereby the power driven mechanism may be started into operation by a simple manually operated starting mechanism, the jaws initially shall be closed under low hydraulic pressure and then automatically shall be completely closed and held closed for a predetermined period of time byhigher hydraulic pressure.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a machine of this character novel and improved means such that if the operators fingers or another object should be inserted accidentally between the jaws when the machine is manually started into operation, closing of the jaws will be prevented, and, due to the low hydraulic pressure then actuating the jaws, no substantial injury to the fingers of the operator, or the other ob 'ect between the jaws, or to the machine can occu Still another object of the invention is to provide in a power driven hydraulic crimping or sealing machine of this character, novel and improved means for predetermining and regulating the (111': ration of the period of application of high pressure to the jaws to accommodate different .1 1

, 2 tions of operation and difierent kinds of materials being operated upon.

A further object is to provide novel and improved hydraulically operated counting mechanism for registering the movement of the jawclosin operations of the machine and which shall be so constructed and operated as to avoid miscount in case of accidental partial closing of the jaws, in other words shall not register a partial closing of the jaws.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine of the specific character described which shall embody novel and improved features of construction whereby the major portion of the closing movement of the jaws shall be effected by relatively low hydraulic pressure and high hydraulic pressure shall be required for operating the jaws only during a minor portion of said closing thereof, to ensure economy in the use of power.

It is desirable, especially in machines for sealing or crimping packages, to utilize starting mechanism which will be more or less automatically actuated by manual movement of the package or other work into the space between the jaws, and accordingly another object of my invention is to provide novel and improved starting mechanism for machines of the general character described which can be actuated by movement of the operator's hands incident to the insertion of the package or work between the jaws and with a minimum of care and attention by the operator.

Other objects are to provide a machine for pressing or sealing layers of sheet material together which shall be simple, inexpensive and reliable in construction and operation; and to obtain other advantages and results that will be brought out by the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is a top plan view of a crimping machine embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken approximately on the plane of the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken approximately on the line 3--3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal sectional view on the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view approximately on the line 55 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view on the line 6-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view approximately onthe line of Figure 2 with portions broken away and shown in section for clearness in illustration.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view approximately on the plane of the line 88 of Figure 7.

F g re 9 is a fragmentary front elevational in approximately a horizontal plane instead of in v a vertical plane as shown in Figures 1 and-2. Figure 11 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view on the plane of the line of Figure 10, and

Figure 12 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view approximately on the plane of the line I2--- I 2 of Figure 10.

Specifically describing the invention, the reference character I designates the frame of the machine which may be a casting and is constructed to be set and fastened upon a table or like support. At the front of the frame is mounted a stationary jaw 3 which is shown in the form of an elongate bar of metal and cooperates with a jaw 4 which also constitutes an elongate bar of metal and is mounted on a lever or yoke 5 which is mounted to oscillate about a horizontal axis between its ends on the frame I so as to move the jaw- 4 toward and from the jaw 3. As shown, the lever 5 is mounted on a shaft 6 which in turn is mounted in the frame I. Desirably a plurality of shims 1 are interposed between the stationary jaw 3 and a horizontal cross bar 8 on the frame for the purpose of adjusting the jaw 3 relatively to the movable jaw, cap screws 8 being provided for removably securing the jaw 3 on the cross bar 8.

In accordance with the invention, the movable jaw 4 is actuated by power driven hydraulic mechanism and as shown, the end of the lever 5 opposite the jaw 4 is pivotally connected at II! to one end of a toggle link II the other end of which is pivotally connected at 12 to a second toggle link I3 which is in the nature of a bell crank and is pivotally connected at I4 to the top of an operating piston l5 which is reciprocable in a cylinder IS in the frame I. The toggle link l3 also has mounted thereon a roller I! normally resting upon the top of an auxiliary operating piston l8 which is reciprocable in the main operating piston l5.

At the side of the pivot |4,opposite the roller H, the toggle link l3 has another roller l9 which normally abuts the top of a hollow cylindrical spring guide 2|! which is slidable in the main operating piston and normally influenced outwardly thereof by a spring 2|.

With this construction, it will be observed that ited by engagement of the toggle link l3 with the top of the operating piston.

In accordance with the invention, to close the jaws, low hydraulic pressure is applied to the auxiliary operating piston |8 to force the same upwardly and thereby swing the toggle link l3 about the pivot 4 and through the link swing the lever 5 so as to move the jaw 4 toward the stationary jaw 3. Assuming that there is no obstruction to closing of the jaws, hydraulic pressure is then applied to the main operating piston I5 so as to force the same upwardly and through the toggle links l3 and I] apply high pressure to the movable jaw.

It will be observed that depending upon the thickness of the material being pressed between the jaws, the main operating piston will have a certain range of movement, the thicker the material the lower being the range of movement in the cyiinder I8, and to provide adequate friction for holding the piston against slipping out of any. particular range of movement, the piston has a friction ring 22 applied thereto. v

Hydraulic pressure for operating the pistons l5 and I8 is generated in the machine, and for this purpose a reservoir 23 for liquid such as oil is provided in the frame I. Mounted on the bote tom of this reservoir is a pump 24 of any suitable construction for forcing the oil under pressure from the reservoir to the operating pistons. As shown, this pump is of the gear type and includes a casing secured on the bottom of the reservoir by pins 25 and having a pump chamber 26 in which are rotatable gears 21 that are mounted on the respective shafts 28 and 29 that project upwardly in the casing. As shown, the shaft 28 is coupled at 38 to the shaft of an electric motor 3| which is secured on the top plate 32 of the reservoir 23. The pump chamber 26 has an inlet passage 33 leading from the reservoir, and an outlet passage 34 which connects with a duct 35 bored in the cast frame I below the reservoir 23. The duct 35 communicates with a vertical duct 36 which in turn communicates with a horizontal passage 31 which near one end communicates with a horizontal duct 38 that leads to a cylinder 39 beneath a power piston 48 which normally is influenced downwardly in the cylinder or against the hydraulic pressure by a spring 4| (see Figure 4). The duct 36 also leads to the cylinder 42 of a piston valve 43 which normally is influenced downwardly by a spring 44, said valve normally closing the duct 38.

Also the horizontal passage 31 is connected by a vertical passage 45 with the cylinder 46 of the starting valve plunger 41 which normally is pressed outwardly of its cylinder by a spring 48 so as to close the passage 45 the outward movement of the valve plunger being limited by a stop plate 49 secured to the frame I. The end of the valve plunger projects from the front of the frame and has a head 58 to cooperate with a starting device which will be hereinafter described. The starting valve 41 has a reduced portion 5| which normally opens the cylinder 46 to the upper end of a vertical passage 52, the other end of which communicates with a horizontal passage 53 that leads by a short port 54 into the lower end of the cylinder 55 of a control piston 56 which normally is influenced downwardly by a spring 51. Connecting the lower end of the cylinder 42 of the piston valve 43 with the cylinder 55 of the contml piston 56 is a horizontal passage 58 and the control piston 56 has a transverse opening 59 which in one position of the piston alines with the passage 58 and constantly communicates with a central longitudinal opening 60 inthe piston. The control piston 56 also has an annular groove 6| which inthe normal position of the piston establishes communication between the passage 68 and a passage 62 which leads into the tapered port 63 of a timing valve which includes a needle or valve head 64 screw threaded at 65 in the frame I and adjustable in the port 63. The upper end of the timing valve port 63 leads into a. chamber 66 which through a lateral port 61 communicates with the horizontal passage 31. v

The cylinder of the starting valve 41 communicates through a port 9| with the cylinder 55 of the control piston 56 above the latter (see Figure 3). Said cylinder 55 above the piston 56 also communicates with one end of a horizontal passage 68 which intermediate its ends connects with a. lateral duct 69 which leads to the cylinder'l6 of the main'piston and to the reservoir 23. In this connection, it will be noted that the main operating piston l5 has a deep circumferential groove near its upper end with which the duct 69 normally communicates.

The passage 68 also communicates with the cylinder 42 of the piston valve 43 and said valve has a reduced portion 1| which normally establishes communication between the passage68 and a short horizontal passage 12 which communicates through a duct 13 with a passage 14 formed between the main operating piston l5 and its cylinder wall and leading into a cylinder 15 beneath the auxiliary operating piston l8.

The circumferential groove 10 in the main operating piston also communicates through a duct 16 with the cylinder 46 of the starting piston 41 which has a reduced portion I1 normally The piston It! has a reduced portion 86 at its establishing communication between said duct' I6 and an air vent passage 19 which also normally communicates through the space around the reduced portion 5| of said valve with the passage 52, see Figure 6.

The reservoir 23 is also connected with the cylinder 39 of the power piston 40 through a duct 80 which normally is closed by said power piston. The power piston normally closes the port 80 but hasits lower end reduced at 8| to form a shoulder 82 so that when the piston is raised a certain amount, by the hydraulic pressure against the influence of the spring 4|, the shoulder 82 will rise to a point which will establish communication between the port 88 and the space between the reduced portion 8| of the piston and the cylinder wall.

For convenience in filling the reservoir and the various passages, ducts and ports with liquid to the desired level, a filling opening 83 is provided and communicates with the passage 68 through the space between the reduced portion ll of the piston valve 43 and its cylinder wall.

In operation of the machine as so far described when the motor 3| is operating, the parts normally are in the position shown in the drawings, the liquid under pressure being pumped through the passages 35, 36, 31 and 38 into the power piston cylinder 39 against the influence of the piston spring 4| so as to store up power. To close the jaws, the starting valve 41 is pushed inwardly sumciently to establish communication between the passages and 52 (see Figure 6) which permits the liquid to flow through passages 53 and 54 into the cylinder below the control piston 56, which raises said piston so as to establish communication between the transverse opening 59 in the piston and the passage 58 (see Figure 3), liquid then flows from passage 58 through the longitudinal opening in the movement until said reduced portion establishes communication between the passage 14 and the recess 85 whereupon the hydraulic pressure is applied to the bottom of the main operating piston l5 which is thus forced upwardly to tightly close the jaws on the material between them. It will be noted that the cross sectional area of the auxiliary operating piston I8 is relatively small so that only low pressure is applied thereby to the jaws, and accordingly should an operator's fingers be inserted between thejaws during their initial closing movement, no serious injury would occur. Similarly, should an obstruction be interposed'between the jaws during their closing no serious injury would occur to the mechanism.

Furthermore, it will be noted that should closing of the jaws be obstructed, the auxiliary piston HIv will not move far enough to establish communication between the passage 14 and the recess 85 so that hydraulic pressure will not be applied to the main operating piston and consequently the jaws will not be closed. This avoids any possibility of injury to operators or the machine. It will be observed, however, that the lower end of the main operating piston is relatively large so that when hydraulic pressure is applied thereto, the jaws will be closed under extremely high pressure.

The pressure applied to the jaws may be varied or regulated by rotating the cap 98 on the cylinder 39 of the power piston 40 so as to vary the compression of the spring 4|. The high pressure will be maintained on the jaws for a period of time which is predetermined by the needle valve 64, the liquid escaping past said valve through the port 63 slowly or fast depending upon the position of said valve in said port. In the normal operation of the machine, when the machine is started, its control valve 41 is only momentarily pushed inwardly to establish communication between the passages 45 and 62, and

upon release of the valve by the operator, thevalve is returned by the spring 48 to its normal position as shown in Figure 6. In this position, the valve closes the passage 45 and opens the passage 52 to the atmosphere through the vent 19. The liquid will then flow through passage 16 to the chamber or groove 10 formed between the main operating piston and its cylinder and thus through passage 69 to the reservoir 23. The opening of passage 52 also opens passages 53 and 54 so that the fiow of liquid therethrough permits the control piston 56 to descend into valve 56 out of the upper end thereof into the the position shown in Figure 3 so as to connect the timing valve port 63, the duct 62 and the passage 58 so that pressure beneath the piston 43 is increased and the piston is raised and closes the passage 38, at the same time establishing communication between the passages 12 and 68 around the reduced portion ll of the valve piston, whereby the liquid flows to the reservoir 23. In this way the pressure beneath the main .operating piston is reduced until the pressure beneath the auxiliary piston is overcome by the spring 2| whereupon the upper jaw is moved rapidly upwardly away from the lower jaw to open the jaws. It will be observed that the length of the period during which pressure is maintained on the jaws 3 and 4 may be prede-- kinds of material to be opacmoae the starting valve 41, and the actuating means is shown as operated by the hands of the operator simultaneously with the insertion between the jaws of the material to be pressed.

This mechanism includes a horizontal shaft 92 journaled at the front end of the frame. Rotatably mounted on this shaft is a starting lever 93 which has one arm 94 provided with a roller 95 which normally abuts the'projecting end of the starting valve 41. The lever has another arm 90 at the side of the shaft 92 opposite the arm 94 which may be separably connected to a combined operating and guard plate 91 which is carried by a U-shaped yoke 90 the ends 99 of which are rotatably mounted on the shaft 92.

The plate 91 is normally disposed in front of the stationary jaw 3 and has heat insulating properties so as to prevent the operators fingers from coming into contact with and being burned by the hot jaw. In the arm 90 of the lever 93- is mounted a latch which includes a shank I rotatably mounted in the lever and having a head I III at the upper end and an operating rod I02 at its lower end so that the latch may be connected to the yoke 98 as shown by solid lines in Figure 7 of the drawings or may be disconnected from said yoke as shown by dot and dash lines.

When the latch is connected to said yoke the lever 93 and the operating and shield plate 91 are connected to move together. Normally the lever 93 is held in the position shown in Figure 2 of the drawings by the spring 40 of the starting valve and the operating plate 91 is held in spaced relation to the stationary jaw, movement of the lever under the influence of the spring 49 being limited by the engagement of a stop screw I03 on the lever with the cross bar 0 on the frame.

In starting the machine, the operator grasps in his hands the material to be pressed between the jaws and simultaneously inserts said material between the jaws and with his knuckles pushes the operating plate 91 inwardly toward the stationary jaw. This action swings the lever 93 so as to push the starting valve 41 inwardly to open the passage 45 and 52 as hereinbefore described. Pressure on the operating plate is then released and the spring 48 returns the starting valve, the lever 93 and the plate 91 to their normal positions.

An alternative to the operating of the lever 93 by the plate 91 is also shown on the drawings and comprises an operating slide I041 one end of which has a slot I05 through which passes a guide pin I06 which is secured in the cross bar 8 while the other end has a plurality of openings I 01 spaced longitudinally of the slide to selectively receive a pin I08 carried by one-end of a lever I09 which is pivotally connected at IIO to the front of the main frame at one side thereof. Conveniently the pin I00 may be rigidly connected to the lever and the slide I04 may be held on the pin by a spring keeper strip III secured to the lever. The other end of the slide I04 is turned outwardly at I04a to be engaged by the hand of the operator. The lever I09 is operatively connected to the operating lever 93 by a pin II2 projecting from the operating lever and passing through a notch H3 in the actuating lever I09 so that as the slide I04 is reciprocated the operating lever 93 will be oscillated.

When using the slide I04 for starting the machine. the latch I00I02 is disconnected from the operating and shield plate 91 so that the latter ma be moved independently of the lever 93. In starting the machine, the operator will insert between the jaws the material to be pressed and .then press with his hand againstthe end I04a known construction is mounted on the cover plate 5 of the machine and has an actuating lever IIIi which is engaged by the head II! of a piston I [0 that is vertically slidable in a cylinder I ill the lower end of which constantly communicates with the cylinder I6 of the main operating piston below the latter. The piston H8 normally is influenced downwardly by a spring I20 but each time the main operating piston is raised to close the jaws,

the counter piston H8 is elevated to actuate the counter. Intermediate its ends the piston III has a reduced portion I2I which forms a space between the piston and cylinder which communicates through a duct I22 with the chamber II in the main piston to drain oir leakage. It will be observed that the counter piston II9 will be operated only when liquid under pressure is admitted beneath the main cylinder to positively close the jaws, and that the counter will not be operated when the jaws are only partially closed under influence of the auxiliary operating piston I0. Accordingly there is. no danger of a miscount which would occur if the counter were operated upon a partial closing of the jaws.

In the machine shown in Figures 1 to 9 inclusive, the jaws move toward and from each other in a substantially vertical plane, but it is also possible to arrange the jaws for operation in a horizontal plane so that the material to be pressed between the jaws may be inserted upwardly into the jaws and then automatically will drop from the jaws by action of gravity when the Jaws are open.

Such a modification is shown in Figures 10 to 12 inclusive where the reference character I23 represents the stationary jaw and I24 indicates the movable jaw which is mounted on a yoke I20 similar to but differently shaped from the yoke or lever 5', said yoke I25 being pivoted on a shaft I 26 in the main frame I21 of the machine. The hydraulic driving mechanism for closing the jaws and the operation thereof are identical in construction with that shown in Figures 1 to 6 inclusive and is designated by the same reference characters in Figures 10 to 12, except that a different starting valve is utilized and different operating mechanism therefor is provided.

As shown in Figure 12 the starting valve I20 has a pin and slot connection I29 with an actuating lever I30 pivotally mounted at I3I on a vertical axis of one side of the frame I2l and having an arm I32 disposed at one side of the frame adjacent the corresponding ends of the jaws so as to be conveniently engaged by the hand of the operator which is used to insert the material to be clamped between the jaws. The

lever I30 normally is actuated by a spring I33 so as to push the starting valve I28 into its cylinder I34 and a stop screw I35 is mounted in the frame of the machine to engage a shoulder I36 on the valve to limit such movement. The valve has a cut away portion I31 to establish communication between the passages 45 and 52 when the valve is pulled outwardly by swinging of the lever I 30, I32, and a second stop shoulder I38 is provided on the valve to engage the stop I35 to limit such outward movement of the valve. The operation of the valve otherwise is the same as that of the starting valve 41.

While I have shown and described the now preferred embodiment of my invention it should be understood that this is primarily for illustrating the principles of the invention, and that the invention may be embodied in other details of construction and in other types of hydraulically operated mechanisms within the spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. A machine for pressing material having relatively movable jaws to receive between them the material to be pressed and a mechanism for closing said jaws comprising main and auxiliary jawactuating means the latter of which is arranged to initially close said jaws under a light pressure while the first is arranged to thereafter continue the jaw-closing operation under relatively high pressure, said main means comprising a liquidoperated piston and cylinder device and said auxiliary means including a piston mounted in a cylinder in the piston of said main means, and cooperative portions on said main means and said auxiliary means comprising valve surfaces on the piston of said auxiliary means and passages in the piston of said main means for controlling application of fluid pressure to said main means, and means for controlling supply of fluid under pressure to said auxiliary means to actuate the latter.

2. The machine set forth in claim 1 with the addition of a counter, and a piston and cylinder device for actuating said counter and actuated by the same fluid pressure that drives said main piston so that said counter is actuated only when said main piston is moved in saiddirection to close said jaws. v

3. The machine as defined in claim 1 with the addition of a source of supply of liquid under pressure and wherein the last-named means includes liquid passages between said source of supply and said auxiliary piston, and a starting valve for controlling flow of liquid from said source to said auxiliary piston.

4. The machine as defined in claim 1 with the addition of means for predetermining the duration of the period of application of liquid pressure to said main piston.

5. In a machine of the character described, a

frame, a pair of jaws, a yoke carrying one of said jaws and pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on said frame, and mechanism for swinging said yoke to move the jaw thereon toward the other to close said jaws, comprising a main cylinder in said frame, a main piston reciprocable in said cylinder, a bell crank lever pivoted on the outer end of said piston and having one arm operatively connected to said yoke, an auxiliary cylinder in said main piston, an auxiliary piston in said auxiliary cylinder operatively engaging the other arm of said bell crank lever, so that upon movement of either of said pistons in one direction said yoke will be swung to close said jaws, means for controlling supply of liquid under pressure to said auxiliary cylinder to move said auxiliary piston I in said direction and thereafter to supply liquid pressure to said main cylinder to operate said main piston in said direction.

6. In a machine of the character described, a frame, a pair of jaws, a yoke carrying one of said jaws and pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on said frame, and mechanism for swinging said yoke to move the jaw thereon toward the other to close said jaws, comprising a main cylinder in said frame, a main piston reciprocable in said cylinder, a bell crank lever pivoted on the outer end of said piston and having one arm operatively connected to said yoke, an auxiliary cylinder in said main piston, an auxiliary piston in said auxiliary cylinder operatively engaging the other arm of said bell crank lever so that upon movement of either of said pistons in one direction said yoke will be swung to close said jaws, means for controlling supply of liquid under pressure to said auxiliary cylinder to move said auxiliary piston in said direction, said main piston having passages leading from said auxiliary cylinder to said main cylinder and said auxiliary piston having portions cooperating with said passages normally to close them but to open them upon movement of said auxiliary piston to a predetermined point and permit liquid to flow into said main cylinder.

'7. A machine as claimed in claim 1 with the addition of a friction ring between the piston of said main means and its cylinder for keeping said piston of the main means from slipping out of any given range of movement in accordance with the thickness of the material to be pressed.

8. A machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein said main and auxiliary jaw-actuating means include toggle linkage comprising a toggle link connected at one end to one of said jaws, and a bell crank lever connected to the other end of said toggle link and pivotally mounted on the piston of said main means and engaged by the piston of said auxiliary means, whereby operation of said auxiliary means moves the toggle linkage toward the position in which said linkage is straightened to initially close the jaws and subsequent operation of the main means applies pressure to said jaws through said toggle linkage with said linkage substantially in its straightened position.

9. A machine as claimed in claim 8 including -a yoke pivotally mounted intermediate its ends,

one end of said yoke carrying one of said jaws g le link.

- 10, A machine as claimed in claim 8 with the I addition of spring means for influencing the piston of said auxiliary means in the other direction to open said jaws.

LEROY L. SALFISBERG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent; 

